Don't Read in the Closet: Volume Four (13 page)

opponent down.

As Mr. Salvatore left, Noah realized just how badly he was

screwed. To go three rounds and make it look good, he was going to

have to take some early hits. He’d have to go down once by round two

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 71

or a knockout by three just wouldn’t sell. That meant taking a lot more

hits early than he normally did.

The crowd went wild and Noah knew the end of the fight was

getting closer. His was next. He checked the wrappings on his hands

one last time and left the locker room. The hallway was dimly lit and

getting hotter by the minute. The air conditioning didn’t work very

well in the basement and it was starting to bake from all the heat

upstairs.

He heard movement in front of him and realized Jax had slipped

out from behind a support pillar. Their eyes locked on each other and

Noah took a step closer before he realized what he was doing. Jax

reached out to him, more slowly this time so he didn’t surprise Noah

again. His fingers trailed over Noah’s right cheek, tracing a lingering

bruise from his last fight.

Noah’s eyes closed and he rolled his head into the touch. It had

been so long, too long, since he’d let anyone comfort him. He didn’t

want to admit he was worried about this fight, but Jax knew without

him having to say anything. He could be weak for a few moments

then he’d put his fighting face back on and become The Rainmaker

once again.

Jax’s hands drifted down, over Noah’s tense, muscled shoulders

and further. Noah dropped his head back and let out a gasping breath.

“Yes, please.” Jax dragged him back into a shadowed corner and

leaned against the wall.

Noah leaned into him, pressing their bodies closer together. He

wanted skin, more of that incredible heat he could feel pouring from

Jax’s body. He ripped at the thin, white tank top Jax wore and it

practically shredded in his hands. He left the sides hanging on Jax’s

shoulders and looked his fill of the muscled torso he’d revealed.

With a groan, Jax grabbed Noah’s head and pulled him closer.

Their lips met and Noah’s heart began to thud. This was what he’d

been missing. Passion, loving touches. Jax devoured him, but it was

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 72

more than raw lust. Noah could feel the longing in his kiss and poured

every ounce of pent up emotion in return.

Their chests slipped against each other, the heat of the hallway

and their bodies causing both of them to be wet with sweat. It still

wasn’t enough, so Noah released his hold on Jax long enough to jerk

his own shorts down. Jax seemed to like the idea and pulled his own

until they fell to his feet then he grabbed Noah and jerked his jock

down. Noah kicked them both off and stood there gasping for breath

as Jax looked him over.

Before he could regain his thoughts, Jax had them together again.

The rough cotton of Jax jock rubbed against the sensitive tip of

Noah’s dick. He whimpered and Jax wrapped his arms around Noah,

one muscled arm around his shoulders and the other at his waist. Noah

held onto Jack’s head, his hand gripping the side. With his other hand,

he reached around to rub his own ass, needed to feel something there,

even if it was just his own fingers.

He’d never wanted like this before. His mind left everything

behind and all he could focus on was this moment, the man who held

him so tightly. Noah dipped his fingers into his own crease, and

groaned when the tips brushed his hole. It clenched and relaxed

against him, his body responding to his need without a thought from

him.

Jax’s mouth on his continued to claim ownership, branding Noah

in a way no one ever had before. Noah slipped a finger inside himself

and arched further into Jax. His cock leaked, leaving streaks of

wetness against Jax’s stomach. Jax pushed back against him, their

thick lengths both hard and aching for more.

His breath quickened and before Noah knew it he was exploding,

his cock shooting stream after stream against Jax. “Fuck,” he cried

softly against Jax’s lips.

Jax moaned and jerked against him and Noah could feel the jock

against him grow wetter. Noah brushed his own still hard dick against

it, feeling Jax’s come through the soaked material. Jax kept holding

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 73

him and leaned their foreheads together as they fought to get their

breathing under control.

Before Noah could gather his thoughts, he heard shouts from

above. He thought for a moment that the match was over then realized

that the sounds weren’t right. Something else was going on. He

looked up, trying to puzzle out the noises.

Jax tightened his arms around him. “Stay here,” he commanded in

a tone Noah had never heard in use before. Jax jerked up his shorts

and ran into the locker room. Noah righted his own clothing while

trying to figure out what was going on.

When Jax came back, he had his duffle bag in his hand and a dark

t-shirt on. He tossed another toward Noah. “Put it on. Hurry.”

Noah’s brain still wasn’t functioning at full speed, but he

complied, jerking the shirt over his head. Jax dropped his duffle on the

floor and pulled out a wallet. And a gun. Noah took several quick

steps back before he realized what he could see on the back of Jax’s

shirt. Three big white letters. F.B.I.

“What the hell?”

“It’s a raid,” Jax responded. “Just stay here and you’ll be fine.”

“You’re a…”

“Yeah, I’m a fed. Just relax, okay. I’ve got you covered.”

“What…was this…”

Jax turned to him and rested a hand against Noah’s cheek. “This

was just us. Me and you. I swear.”

Noah felt like his universe was imploding around him. He

couldn’t seem to function and leaned against the wall before sinking

down onto the floor. Jax knelt beside him and rubbed his hands over

his arms. “Come on, Noah. Get ahold of yourself.”

“I don’t know what’s going on.”

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 74

“You don’t have to worry about that. Just know that I’m going to

keep you safe, okay?”

Noah could only nod, hoping that Jax would keep his word.

****

“Hey, Joe! Someone’s here to see you.”

Noah looked up from the stack of produce boxes he was

unloading from a delivery truck. He still wasn’t used to answering to

‘Joe’, but it was starting to get easier.

“On my way, boss.” He figured his contact with the U.S.

Marshal’s was here to check up on him again. The guy stopped by

periodically to make sure Noah was toeing the line. He hopped from

the back of the truck onto the loading dock and went to the back

office. He had to stop and stare when he saw Jax standing there

waiting on him.

“Hi, Joe.”

Noah couldn’t speak. He just kept looking at Jax. Hell, he didn’t

even know if Jax was really his name. Jax walked forward the few

steps that separated them and held out his hand. Noah took it

automatically. Jax gave it a squeeze then rubbed his thumb across

Noah’s.

“Hey,” Noah finally managed to force out.

“Did you miss me?” Jax asked with a smirk.

“Not really.”
Only every minute for the first few terrifying weeks.

But he wouldn’t tell Jax that.

“That’s a shame. I couldn’t wait to see you again. Your contact

finally caved and let me come visit. I’ll be going with you to testify.”

Oh, yeah. The trial. Noah managed to keep it out of his thoughts

most of the time. He’d worked out a deal with the prosecutor so no

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 75

charges would be brought against him as long as he did his part and

told the jury his story.

“That’s cool.” It really wasn’t. Noah didn’t know if he could

handle Jax in such close proximity after what had happened the night

of the raid.

“And then I was thinking we could maybe go somewhere, get to

know each other a little more.”

Noah realized Jax was still holding his hand and he moved it

away. He wiped it down his black uniform pants and stuffed it into his

pocket. “Why?”

Jax stepped in even closer and ran his now free hand over Noah’s

cheek. “Because I can’t get you out of my mind. I’ve never felt this

way before and I want to know what it means,” Jax paused and took a

breath. “Tell me if you don’t feel the same and I’ll leave you alone.”

Noah took a deep breath and blew it out. In a way, he did feel the

same. He just wasn’t sure he wanted to confess that. Wasn’t sure he

was ready to say that out loud to anyone, much less someone he didn’t

even really know. He took another breath and looked up into Jax’s

eyes. “What’s your name?”

“Jackson Michael Edwards.”

“So I can still call you Jax?”

“Yeah, you can.”

Noah couldn’t help it. He smiled. It felt weird since he hadn’t used

the expression in so long. “Okay, Jax. If you’ll take me somewhere

warm and sunny after all this is over, I’ll go.”

Jax laughed and leaned their foreheads together. “Tired of Indiana

winter already?”

“So fucking tired you don’t even know. And if I have to unload

another damn box of apples, I’ll scream.”

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 76

Jax pulled him closer and pressed a quick kiss to Noah’s lips.

“Then let’s get going. You have a family emergency and I’m here to

take you home.”

Noah didn’t miss the emphasis Jax put on the word. Home. That

sounded good.

THE END

Author bio:
Poppy Dennison is a new author to the m/m genre

and her first novel is in development. You can find more information

on Poppy and her writing at http://paranormalpoppy.blogspot.com/

Don’t Read in the Closet – volume four 77

Megan Derr – PERMANENT EXHIBIT: THE GUARDIANS (Fantasy/Angels)

Genre:
fantasy

Tags:
angels, muse, magic

Dear Author,

Words:
3,365

I understand that there are

still some authors looking

PERMANENT EXHIBIT: THE

for inspiration. Would

GUARDIANS

anyone like to tell me why

these three boys are so very

by Megan Derr

tired out and had to take a

nap? :-)

Beau walked along the deserted sidewalk,

grateful for the silence. He’d been dragged out

Looking forward to

someone tackling a little

to celebrate in the parade chaos, but all too soon

m/m/m.

it devolved as it always did, and he wanted

[PHOTO: Three tanned,

simply to be alone. It would only get worse as

toned, perfect young men lie

people got drunk, got grabby, and eventually

sprawled and entangled,

got carried away.

deep in sleep. Two lie on a

white settee, while the third

So he’d slipped away at the first chance, and

leans against it, head

breathed a sigh of relief as he reached the all-